Jr Boss ready for Yankees repeat

Hank Steinbrenner is ready for the start of spring training baseball, which he considers a mere formality in the quest for a repeat championship for the New York Yankees. As Yankee Captain Derek Jeter said Wednesday, the mantra for the Bronx Bombers does not change: win it all or the season is a failure.

Steinbrenner thinks the offseason moves made by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman (trading for Curtis Granderson and Javy Vazquez) have improved the team. I would quibble with that notion on the Vazquez end, but he may be right. The Yankees did fulfill Cashman's stated desire to get younger and more flexible. They managed to revamp their roster in a cost-effective way, a goal of Hank's brother Hal after years of what he sees as out-of-control spending by the real Boss: George Steinbrenner.

Yet, I think Jr. Boss & Co. are underestimating the impact of losing both Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon, good guys with clutch bats. The brass is counting on Granderson and Nick Johnson to fill that void both in the lineup and the clubhouse. We'll see if they have the goods to do it.

Jeter: State of the Yankees Union is strong

After a great year for the New York Yankees with a new stadium and another World Series title, Captain Derek Jeter believes the State of the Yankees Union is strong. But the mantra hasn't changed for Jeter or the Yankees: the only thing that matters is winning another title.

"I would never want to be with an organization that's happy to go home," he told Harold Reynolds of MLB Network. "I don't like to play with people that accept losing. If you don't win, you shouldn't be walking around with a smile on your face."

The Yankee Captain is still as competitive as ever. Despite his great affection for Joe Torre, he pledged to show no mercy toward his old manager when the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in interleague play this year.

He seemed excited to play with newcomer Curtis Granderson, a great guy who has really improved his game, according to Jeter. But he is genuinely sad about the loss of Hideki Matsui, one of his favorite teammates, a professional who, like Jeter, never made excuses. "I really will miss him."

Jeter is famous for not paying much attention to his individual stats, but he expressed pride and happiness about becoming the all-time Yankees hits king, a "mind-boggling" feat, and being named the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. "What an honor."

The Yankee shortstop also takes a lot of pride in his work ethic and he told Reynolds he worked at changing his workout routine to increase flexibility, mobility, agility and lateral movement in response to criticisms of his defense. "I always accept criticism as a challenge," Jeter said. "It's not saying I'm out there trying to prove somebody wrong, but I'm just trying to make myself a better all-around player."

As the Yankee Captain closes in on 3,000 hits, he's doesn't appear ready to retire anytime soon. "As long as I'm having fun and I'm having the time of my life right now," Jeter said.

Thanks to chris.ptacek via Wikipedia for the photo.

Giants playing dangerous game with Lincecum

While other teams are wisely signing their young stars to long-term deals covering their peak years, the San Francisco Giants are playing a dangerous game with ace Tim Lincecum.

First, they submit a laughably low $8 million offer in arbitration for a guy who just won his second consecutive National League Cy Young Award. Then they offer their 25-year star only a two-year deal, perhaps out of fear that his unorthodox delivery will get him hurt. By comparison, King Felix Hernandez just signed a five-year deal with the Seattle Mariners for $78 million.

Lincecum is a rare gem in baseball, a stud pitcher who is dominating at a ridiculously early age. His career stats: 40-17, 2.90 ERA, 676 strikeouts. Are you kidding me?

They still have time to come to an agreement, but the financial gap is wide and the bitterness is growing. I fear the Giants and Lincecum are heading for a nasty arbitration hearing, one where the team could bring up the misdeameanor drug charge Lincecum is facing. But it's a fight the Giants will lose even if they manage to convince an arbitration panel that Lincecum is not worth the $13 million he's asking for.

I'm a fan of teams trying to retain their young stars because I believe it's good for baseball. But if the team is not willing to cooperate, it's their loss. Don't worry, Tim. The New York Yankees will wait for you.

Thanks to Acordova via Wikipedia for the photo.

Joba open to being Mo's successor

Joba Chamberlain is a brave man. While making it clear that he is preparing to be a starter in the New York Yankees rotation, Chamberlain said he is willing to be the guy who follows the great Mariano Rivera as the Yankees closer if that's what the team ultimately decides.

"There is going to have to be somebody who comes behind him that replaces the legacy that is Mariano," Chamberlain said. "If that opportunity comes, great. If we sit down and they say that, then we'll get after it."

Joba has had a front-row seat to watch Rivera's greatness over the last few years. The fact that he is not intimidated by the possibility of following Mo underscores why people argue that he should be his set-up guy and the closer when Mo decides to retire (hopefully in the very distant future). Joba has the mindset and toughness needed to be a great closer.

I personally wouldn't want to be the guy that follows Mo. But I think someone like Joba, who has played baseball in New York for several years and is well liked by Yankee fans, would have an easier time assuming the job than some free-agent hot shot. I think the Yankees will eventually give him that chance.

Thanks to Giant27 via Wikipedia for the photo.

Clemens should let McNamee lawsuit go

Roger Clemens was known as a real bulldog, a positive trait for baseball player, but one that is not serving him well in retirement.

The former New York Yankees pitcher has appealed the dismissal of most of his lawsuit against former trainer Roger McNamee. His name was mentioned more than 80 times in the report by former Senator George Mitchell about steroids use in baseball, in large part due to McNamee's information. Clemens has always denied McNamee's descriptions of his steroid use, even asserting his innocence in front of Congress in 2008.

Clemens really should let this go. Trying to revive his lawsuit only reminds people that Clemens has been outed as a steroids user. It also makes Clemens look like a bully. McNamee talked to Mitchell under threat of prosecution. He really didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Clemens does.

Keeping the lawsuit alive also doesn't serve Clemens well as he approaches eligibility for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. Unlike with Mark McGwire, there are arguments that Clemens could get in based on his stats before his reported steroid use began. I don't buy that. First of all we don't know for sure whether Clemens steroid use began in Toronto with the Blue Jays or during his glory days with the Boston Red Sox. And since we don't know that, it's impossible to separate his career into clean and dirty phases.

I have consistently argued that players outed as steroid users should be banned from the hall. Clemens should not be an exception.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.

Nantz steals the show How I Met Your Mother

New York Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher was supposed to be the main attraction on "How I Met Your Mother" last night. But CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz stole the show with an imaginery interview with the show's legendary lothario Barney Stinson.

Nantz interviewed Barney about being the champion of the "sport of sleeping with random hotties" and attempting a perfect week of picking up women. On the show, Barney is as good at picking up women as Albert Pujols is at baseball. But the perfect week is his attempt to distract himself from the possibility of getting fired.

The writers did a fantastic job of weaving in the baseball with the comedy, even managing a good joke about a topic I never thought I would find funny: the use of performance-enhancing drugs. I also loved using the theme music from the Major League movies for the scene when Barney and pal Ted scour the bar for potential hookups to continue the streak.

Swisher came in near the end of the episode to jeopardize Barney's attempt because as Barney notes the only thing that could have stopped him was a member of the 2009 World Champion New York Yankees. I won't tell you what happens: you have to see it for yourself.

It's not the first time HIMYM has done a sports-themed episode. Again, it was related to Barney's libido, when the gang used a March Madness-type bracket to try to figure out who was stalking him.

But last night was a truly hilarious, must-see episode for HIMYM fans and baseball fans.

Thanks to Wasted Time R via en.Wikipedia for the photo.

Yankee brass knows team will miss Matsui

New York Yankees officials finally acknowledged what us fans have known for months, that they are really going to miss Hideki Matsui. During a six-day tour of Asia with the 2009 World Series championship trophy, Brian Cashman and Randy Levine were full of praise for Godzilla, who left the Bronx Bombers to sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Cashman called the signing of Matsui one of the best baseball deals he ever made while Levine called Godzilla a great Yankee. They tried to blame timing for Matsui's departure, with a focus on re-signing pitcher Andy Pettitte before they could move on to other players. But Matsui reportedly told a Japanese newspaper that he loved the Yankees, but no longer felt valued by the team.
Matsui's absence presents a real lineup problem. Who will protect Alex Rodriguez? The Yankees could put Jorge Posada permanently in that slot, but he hits into a lot double plays. Robinson Cano is not a good option because he's terrible with runners in scoring position. Perhaps Curtis Granderson, if he can solve left-handed pitching?

The Yankees also have a marketing problem. Matsui was the main draw with the die-hard Japanese fan base and Levine said he hopes they keep rooting for the Bronx Bombers. Will those fans get up early to watch Yankee games without Matsui? Probably not. But with Matsui now joining Ichiro on the West Coast, at least they can sleep in.

Thanks to Keith Allison via Wikipedia for the photo.